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Oxygen can be quite harmful and even toxic to all cells, resulting in the oxidation of membrane lipids, inactivation of enzymes, or genetic damage. Here, we discuss several defenses that bacteria have acquired to protect themselves from oxygen toxicity.

A group in the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences at the NIH led by Dr. Menghang Xia used ATCC's Angio-Ready™to confirm the dose-dependent, anti-angiogenic effects of compounds used in a screen of HIF-1 signaling inhibitors.

Understanding your anaerobe’s nutritional requirements is essential for selecting the correct media. Presently, there are a number of broth and agar media that can be freshly prepared or purchased from commercial suppliers to support the growth of your cultures. Here, we will provide an overview of these types of media as well as the importance of using indicators and reducing agents.

For anaerobic cultures, the exclusion of oxygen from the environment is essential for growth. Presently, there are a number of methods that can be used to ensure an oxygen-free environment. Here, we will discuss several common methods for the cultivation of anaerobic bacteria.

Lyophilization, or the process of freeze-drying, is a valuable method for preserving materials for longer-term storage and stability. Similar to cryopreservation, when we talk about lyophilization we focus on the management of water during the preservation process. However, during lyophilization, water is removed through a process called sublimation to yield a stable, dehydrated material with a relatively indefinite shelf-life.